Agenda

Empowering women and youth – who together make up 62% of the global population – empowers us all. There are currently 4.6 billion women and youth. And yet, in most places, being young or a woman makes you more likely to be at a disadvantage in terms of health, education or economic opportunities. The international community has a roadmap, enshrined in Agenda 2030, but progress has been slow. The 2018 Global Forum on Development will discuss the way forward for turning the promise of women and youth empowerment into reality.

Cornelia Richter, Vice-President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)Rupert Schlegelmilch, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the European Union to the OECDHajer Sharief, Youth Ambassador and Founder, Cordaid and Together We Build it, Libya

Moderator

Masamichi Kono, Deputy Secretary - General, OECD

10:30-12:30

Session 1 – The Economic Empowerment of Youth and Women in Developing Countries: Which are the Right Policy Levers?

The economic empowerment of youth and women is about improving their own lives as well as breaking down barriers that prevent them from making the world a better place for all. Indeed, economies are more resilient, productive and inclusive when they reduce gender inequalities and actively support the equal participation of youth and women in all spheres of life. Specific policies to support young people and women’s economic empowerment are needed, but are not enough. How can they be better linked with other universal economic policies to accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2030?

For the coming decades, rural youth around the world will continue to grow in numbers, and face the starkest challenges. New research by the OECD stresses that employment is at the heart of their well-being. Rural youth are often under-employed or employed in low productivity sectors. They depend strongly on household-based activities and informality. The massive creation of off-farm, quality jobs for rural youth is thus a necessity. One promising option is to invest more and better in agro-food industries – including production, processing and marketing. Participants will discuss specific challenges rural youth face and what specific solutions are required.

Nowhere are women at a greater disadvantage than in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. But where women actively participate in peacebuilding and statebuilding processes, the chances for peace and resilience improve. Moreover, such processes can provide opportunities to advance the recognition of women’s rights. As recent OECD research shows, this requires addressing the root causes of gender inequalities, conflict and fragility, and the full range of connections between them. How effective are development partners and how can they improve?